I get questions all the time from people who call about my listings. How much money do the sellers want down, what will my paytments be, etc.

Well, first thing firsst. The seller really doens’t tell you how much unless it’s a for sale by owner. These days, those are harder to find becasue interest rates are so good, buyers can get better rates from a lender or their bank.

First thing you should do, if you don’t have a lender, call your agent-ME!

I have several lenders that can help you get pre-qualified. Now why get prequalified before you go house hunting? Great question! We need to know how much house you can qualify for. What good is it going to look at a house you fall in love with only to find out you can’t afford it? It’s a heartbeaking experience. Trust me-I too went through that before I was ever a Realtor.

Once we have your pre-qualification letter, then we can start with the requirements you are looking for.

Notice I said requirements-not wants. There is a big difference.

Requirements are things like how many bedrooms and bathrooms, one or two story, large or small yard, one car or two car garage. These are things that you absolutley have to have in a home.

Everything else, I call wants. The type of flooring you want can be carpet, wood floors or tile. But many owners pick what they want and might not meet your wants. Things like flooring and paint can always be changed. Sure, they cost money, but this is an investment. There is no such thing as a perfect home ready for you to move into. There is always something, no matter how small, that you will do over time to your new home.

Once we have your wants and your needs, then the real fun starts. Location!

Depending on your price range, this might determine the location as well. Hey, we all would like to live in a ritzy place like Dominion, but how many people can afford one million dollar h omes? Being realistic and open will help make the process easier.

So we found your home-now we put in an offer and wait for an ansewr. Somteimes it’s yes as is, and sometimes we get a counter offer.

These days, with inventory being so low, we even offer over asking, especially when we are competing with other buyers.

These are some of the basics in wanting to buy a home. The pre-qualificaiton is key! If you are ready to buy a home and don’t know where to start, call me!